Element International Trade Inc. (Element) Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility

Our Motto : Awareness for Life

Definition : Sustainability meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability assures intergenerational equity. When the resources we actually use match the earth’s capacity to regenerate adequate future supply, then our systems remain balanced indefinitely. However, if resources used exceed this capacity, then current demand is being met by borrowing from the future, which will eventually lead to an inability to meet society’s needs.

The moral imperative that grounds sustainability is the need to balance the short and long-term supply and demand of resources. Securing short-term success should never risk long-term survival. Business sustainability is the ability of firms to respond to their short-term needs without compromising the ability to meet future needs. By focusing on the “sustaining” part of sustainability, businesses can build long-term relationships, innovate enduring designs and invest in long-lasting infrastructure. Not only will this help firms survive over the long term, it will help them thrive.

Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility Guidelines & Policies : Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is strongly connected with the principles of Sustainability. An organization should make decisions based not only on financial factors, but also on the social and environmental consequences thereof. Therefore, it is the core corporate responsibility of Element to practice its corporate values through its commitment to grow in a socially and environmentally responsible way, while meeting its financial interests and the aspirations of its stakeholders.

Element  recognizes that its business activities have wide impact on the societies in which its off-shore production facilities operates, and therefore an effective CSR practice is required giving due consideration to the interests of its stakeholders, i.e. employees, sub-contractors, business partners, local communities and other organizations. Element ’s endeavor is to make CSR a key business process for sustainable development.

Guiding Principle Concept :  In the countries where our off-shore production facilities located, with a diligence and responsible Supply Chain Management our aim is ;  to enhance the contribution to sustainable development that seek to ensure coherence between economic, environmental and social objectives & progress.  to implement United Nations’ “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework for Human Rights

These applications will not only bring substantial benefits to home and these off-shore countries but also contribute to the efficient and ethical use of capital, technology and human and natural resources as well. They facilitate the transfer of technology among the regions of the world and the development of technologies that reflect local conditions. Through both formal training and on-the-job learning also promote the development of human capital and creating employment opportunities in these off-shore manufacturing countries.

General Policies : With the concept of responsible Supply Chain Management, our established policies in the off-shore countries in which we have production facilities ;  Contribute to economic, environmental and social progress with a view to achieving sustainable development.  Respect the internationally recognized human rights of those affected by their activities.  Encourage local capacity building through close co-operation with the local community  Encourage human capital formation, in particular by creating employment opportunities and facilitating training opportunities for employees. Encompass not only hiring practices, but also training and other employee development practices as well. Human capital formation also incorporates the notion of non-discrimination in hiring practices as well as promotion practices, life-long learning and other on-the-job training.  Refrain from seeking or accepting exemptions not contemplated in the statutory or regulatory framework related to human rights, environmental, health, safety, labour, taxation, financial incentives, or other issues.

Main Goal : Recognizing that our off-shore production activities often have social and environmental implications. Institution of “self-regulatory practices and management systems” (by our responsible Supply Chain Management) sensitive to reaching these goals – thereby contributing to sustainable development.

Element International Trade Inc. (Element) Code of Conduct 

Our Motto : Honest, Fair, Accurate and Respectful Business

Code of Conduct Definitions & Guidelines Human Rights : (within the framework of internationally recognized human rights, the international human rights obligations of the countries in which Enterprises operate as well as relevant domestic laws and regulations) Enterprises, regardless of their size sector, operational context, ownership and structure, should respect human rights wherever they operate

Enterprises should respect the human rights of individuals belonging to specific groups or populations that require particular attention, where they may have adverse human rights impacts on them. In this connection, United Nations instruments have elaborated further on the rights of indigenous peoples ; persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; women; children; persons with disabilities; and migrant workers and their families.

Employment and Industrial Relations : (within the framework of applicable law, regulations and prevailing labour relations and employment practices and applicable international labour standards)

Respect the right of workers employed by the multinational enterprise to establish or join trade unions and representative organizations of their own choosing.

Respect the right of workers employed by the multinational enterprise to have trade unions and representative organizations of their own choosing recognized for the purpose of collective bargaining, and engage in constructive negotiations, either individually or through employers’ associations, with such representatives with a view to reaching agreements on terms and conditions of employment.

Contribute to the effective abolition of child labour, and take immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour as a matter of urgency.

Contribute to the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour and take adequate steps to ensure that forced or compulsory labour does not exist in their operations.

Be guided throughout their operations by the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and not discriminate against their workers with respect to employment or occupation on such grounds as race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin, or other status, unless selectivity concerning worker characteristics furthers established governmental policies which specifically promote greater equality of employment opportunity or relates to the inherent requirements of a job.When multinational enterprises operate in developing countries, where comparable employers may not exist, provide the best possible wages, benefits and conditions of work, within the framework of government policies. These should be related to the economic position of the enterprise, but should be at least adequate to satisfy the basic needs of the workers and their families.

Take adequate steps to ensure occupational health and safety in their operations.

In overseas operations, to the greatest extent practicable, employ local workers and provide training with a view to improving skill levels, in co-operation with worker representatives

Through their labour management practices, their creation of high-quality, well-paid jobs and their contribution to economic growth, multinational enterprises can play a positive role in helping to address the root causes of poverty in general and of child labour in particular.

Employment and industrial relations standards are understood to include compensation and working time arrangements. The reference to occupational health and safety implies that multinational enterprises are expected to follow prevailing regulatory standards and industry norms to minimize the risk of accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with, or occurring in, the course of employment.

Encourages to recruit an adequate workforce share locally, including managerial personnel, and to provide training to them. Enterprises are also encouraged to invest, to the greatest extent practicable, in training and lifelong learning while ensuring equal opportunities to training for women and other vulnerable groups, such as youth, low-skilled people, people with disabilities, migrants, older workers, and indigenous peoples.

Environment : Enterprises should take due account of the need to protect the environment, public health and safety, and generally to conduct their activities in a manner contributing to the wider goal of sustainable development. Enterprises should therefore give appropriate attention to environmental issues within their business strategies and encouraged to work to raise the level of environmental performance in all parts of their operations, even where this may not be formally required by existing practice in the countries in which they operate.

In particular, enterprises should establish and maintain a system of environmental management appropriate to the enterprise, including ; collection and evaluation of adequate and timely information regarding the environmental, health, and safety impacts of their activities establishment of measurable objectives and, where appropriate, targets for improved environmental performance and resource utilization, including periodically reviewing the continuing relevance of these objectives  regular monitoring and verification of progress toward environmental, health, and safety objectives or targets.

Consistent with the scientific and technical understanding of the risks, where there are threats of serious damage to the environment, taking also into account human health and safety, not use the lack of full scientific certainty as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent or minimize such damage.

Maintain contingency plans for preventing, mitigating, and controlling serious environmental and health damage from their operations, including accidents and emergencies, and mechanisms for immediate reporting to the competent authorities.

Continually seek to improve corporate environmental performance, at the level of the enterprise and of its supply chain, by encouraging such activities as ; adoption of technologies and operating procedures in all parts of the enterprise that reflect standards concerning environmental performance in the best performing part of the enterprise development and provision of products or services that have no undue environmental impacts ; are safe in their intended use ; reduce greenhouse gas emissions ; are efficient in their consumption of energy and natural resources ; can be reused, recycled, or disposed of safely promoting higher levels of awareness among customers of the environmental implications of using the products and services of the enterprise, including, by providing accurate information on their products (for example, on greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, resource efficiency, or other environmental issues)  exploring and assessing ways of improving the environmental performance of the enterprise over the longer term, for instance by developing strategies for carbon emission reduction (such as ; maximizing energy efficiency potential by replacing older, inefficient processes with current Best Available Technologies and Best Practice Technologies), efficient resource utilization and recycling, substitution or reduction of use of toxic substances, or strategies on biodiversity.
Enterprises have an important role to play in the training and education of their employees with regard to environmental matters. Enterprises should provide adequate education and training to workers in environmental health and safety matters, including the handling of hazardous materials and the prevention of environmental accidents, as well as more general environmental management areas, such as environmental impact assessment procedures, public relations, and environmental technologies. Also, they are encouraged to discharge this responsibility in as broad a manner as possible, especially in areas directly related to human health and safety.

Combating Bribery, Bribe Solicitation and Extortion : Develop and adopt adequate internal controls, ethics and compliance programs or measures for preventing and detecting bribery, developed on the basis of a risk assessment addressing the individual circumstances of an enterprise, in particular the bribery risks facing the enterprise.

Enhance the transparency of Enterprises activities in the fight against bribery, bribe solicitation and extortion. Measures could include making public commitments against bribery, bribe solicitation and extortion, and disclosing the management systems and the internal controls, ethics and compliance programs or measures adopted by enterprises in order to honor these commitments.  Enterprises should also foster openness and dialogue with the public so as to promote its awareness of and cooperation with the fight against bribery, bribe solicitation and extortion.

Promote employee awareness of and compliance with company policies and internal controls, ethics and compliance programmes or measures against bribery, bribe solicitation and extortion through appropriate dissemination of such policies, programmes or measures and through training programmes and disciplinary procedures.

Science and Technology : Enterprises should , endeavor to ensure that their activities are compatible with the science and technology (S&T) policies and plans of the countries in which they operate and as appropriate contribute to the development of local and national innovative capacity.  When appropriate, perform science and technology development work in host countries to address local market needs, as well as employ host country personnel in an S&T capacity and encourage their training, taking into account commercial needs.  Where relevant to commercial objectives, develop ties with local universities, public research institutions, and participate in co-operative research projects with local industry or industry associations.

The R&D activities of Multinational Enterprises, when well connected to the national innovation system, can help enhance the economic and social progress in their host countries. In turn, the development of a dynamic innovation system in the host country expands commercial opportunities for Multinational Enterprises. Consumer Interests : When dealing with consumers, enterprises should act in accordance with fair business, marketing and advertising practices and should take all reasonable steps to ensure the quality and reliability of the goods and services that they provide. In particular ;  Ensure that the goods and services they provide meet all agreed or legally required standards for consumer health and safety, including those pertaining to health warnings and safety information.  Provide accurate, verifiable and clear information that is sufficient to enable consumers to make informed decisions, including information on the prices and, where appropriate, content, safe use, environmental attributes, maintenance, storage and disposal of goods and services. Where feasible this information should be provided in a manner that facilitates consumers’ ability to compare products. Provide consumers with access to fair, easy to use, timely and effective non-judicial dispute resolution mechanisms, without unnecessary cost or burden. Not make representations or omissions, nor engage in any other practices, that are deceptive, misleading, fraudulent or unfair.

Competition : Enterprises should carry out their activities in a manner consistent with all applicable competition laws and regulations, taking into account the competition laws of all jurisdictions in which the activities may have anticompetitive effects and refrain from entering into or carrying out anticompetitive agreements. Also, they should regularly promote employee awareness of the importance of compliance with all applicable competition laws and regulations, and, in particular, train senior management of the enterprise in relation to competition issues.

Taxation : Enterprises should comply with the spirit of the tax laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate. Complying with the spirit of the law means discerning and following the intention of the legislature. Tax compliance includes such measures as providing to the relevant authorities timely information that is relevant or required by law for purposes of the correct determination of taxes to be assessed in connection with their operations and conforming transfer pricing practices to the arm’s length principle.

Enterprises should treat tax governance and tax compliance as important elements of their oversight and broader risk management systems. In particular, corporate boards should adopt tax risk management strategies to ensure that the financial, regulatory and reputational risks associated with taxation are fully identified and evaluated.

 

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Founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, Water.org pioneers innovative, community-driven and market-based solutions to provide access to safe water and sanitation — giving women hope, children health and communities a future. To date, Water.org has positively transformed millions of lives around the world, ensuring a better life for generations ahead.

Until May 31st, 2018, Element International Trade Inc. will donate $0.05USD for each FIBC purchased with min. 50.000 units contract without maximum limits.